Eleven years ago, Jessica Williams drifted into a work crew of teenagers picking up trash along Interstate 15 and killed 6 teens due to impaired driving. Since her sentencing, Williams’ lawyers have waged a lengthy legal battle to have her conviction overturned.
This case has become controversial because of the legal issue related to her conviction for driving with a prohibited substance in her system. Williams had marijuana metabolites in her system at the time of the accident. Chief among the issues now before the court are two contradictory state laws that defined the use of “prohibited substances” at the time of her trial. One listed marijuana metabolites and one didn’t.
Williams’ attorney argued before Judge Michelle Leavitt that those contradictory statutes failed to provide Williams proper notice as to whether it was legal to drive under the influence of marijuana metabolites. Attorney Michael Pescetta is essentially arguing that Williams was not protected by her due process rights. However, prosecutor Bruce Nelson believes the state supreme court has already decided the issue against Williams.
The judge will issue a written order at a later date. Should Williams win, sources say Nelson will appeal. On the other side, Williams’ family told the I-Team at 8 News Now that her 11 years in prison has been more than enough punishment.
Williams continues to reason that she was not impaired at the time of the accident, but that she was tired and fell asleep at the wheel after a long night.
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http://www.8newsnow.com/story/19116053/i-team-woman-convicted-of-killing-6-teens-seeks-appeal
